Homicide detective Solomon Burke identified the 16-year-old boy as the killer, Col John Fortunato, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, said Friday. Fortunato would not elaborate on a motive or evidence linking the teen to the crime, citing the sensitivity of the continuing investigation.

An arrest warrant was issued for the teenager Thursday, and Fortunato said investigators found him almost immediately and arrested him late in the day at his home. He is being held in the L. Robert Rivarde Memorial Home, a juvenile detention center in Harvey, on one count of second-degree murder.

Fortunato did not identify the suspect because he is a juvenile.

Deputies found Martin, 27 and also a Kenner resident, dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Aug. 7 near the intersection of Newton Street and Bengal Road.

Martin's mother, Betty Harvey, said Friday that relatives have an idea who the suspect might be, likely a passing acquaintance of Martin's, but they do not know for sure.

"I feel thankful to God that the detectives did the very best that they could," she said. "A person like that has to be mentally disturbed to do something like that."

But Harvey said she also feels for the 16-year-old and his family.

"That's still somebody's child," she said. "I forgive whoever it was that killed my son, but I said, 'Lord, I don't want him to kill another person.' "

"I'm relieved and I'm grateful and thankful to God," she said. "I know my son is in a better place."